Bracken in line for Gloucestershire debut

Australia's left-arm seamer, Nathan Bracken, could make his Gloucestershire debut in the C&G Trophy on Saturday, after being signed as an overseas player until the end of the season.

Bracken has played three Tests to date, and is in line to replace Mike Smith, who has suffered a slipped disc. Should he play at Lord's, it will be a bittersweet moment for him, for it was after sustaining a shoulder injury there in 2001 that he was forced to fly home from the Ashes tour.

"Nathan will be a very useful addition to us in these important final games of the season," said Gloucestershire's player-coach, Mark Alleyne, who is himself a doubt for the match because of a broken thumb.

Alleyne, however, is expected to play through the pain barrier, in what could be his final Lord's appearance. "I would be very surprised if Mark isn't fit," Gloucestershire's allrounder Alex Gidman told BBC Sport.